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Jen

New York

A Devastating Situation

My story happened when I was 18, a freshman in college and ready to become my own person. Then a guy followed me home one night and raped me. The thought of even sharing this right now, 12 years later, makes my heart race and my hands shake.

“The thought of someone being in my situation but with fewer options than I had is truly horrifying.”

The next day was a blur but I managed to go to the clinic. I lied about why I was there—just saying I had unprotected sex—and received the morning after pill. I don’t think she believed me from my appearance, but she administered it to me anyway without any further questions.

It wasn’t until a month later that I went to Planned Parenthood, told them the real reason I was there, and got an evaluation. I can’t imagine not having the option of receiving the “morning after” pill and worrying if I had become pregnant from the worst moment of my life. What if I didn’t go to the clinic in that crucial time frame to receive the pill and I had become pregnant? This could have easily been the case for me because I was a mess. I would have wanted an abortion. I would not have wanted to have a child out of these circumstances.

I’m sharing my story because if our rights as women are taken away, women who are violated in the worst possible way will have fewer options and more panic in an already devastating situation. Lawmaker Brian Kurcaba said “rape can be beautiful” if it produces a child. We cannot sit back and allow politicians with this ridiculous and terrifying view to make life decisions for us.

We need to stand up and fight for ourselves and our bodies, and the rights of our friends, sisters, and daughters. It is a scary moment to post a story that you haven’t even shared with some family and most friends. But the thought of someone being in my situation with fewer options than I had is truly horrifying.